This is on the "showing weakness to our enemies" comments...

Over the last few years, several large and disturbing cracks in this country's infrastructure have appeared. The massive East Coast blackout, yearly devastating wildfires, 9/11, and now the Katrina disaster all show that there are many unguarded "targets of opportunity" in the US. After this disaster, anyone with a terrorist agenda has now pondered seeking the ability to rapidly strike these targets once they present themselves.

I might also be paranoid as well. Let's see. Ichi, if you happen to be reading this, what kind of destruction could a team of terrorists achieve by starting coordinated wildfires during the western dry season? Are people capable of this, or does this require more than just a matchbook? Do the fire departments have a plan for this kind of thing, or does it just get laughed at?